Holiday overview

Explore 200 million years of the Earth's history as we travel through the beautiful scenery of the Jurassic Cast World Heritage Site. We'll visit classic spots including Durdle Door, Old Harry Rocks, the Isle of Portland, Chesil Beach and the dramatic cliffs of West Bay. We'll also go in search of giant ammonites at Lyme Regis, as well as more modest fossils. During the course of each day we'll walk up to 5 miles (8km).

Holiday highlights

Experienced leaders share their knowledge and guide you to the best locations

Enjoy the landscape around you and understand how it was created

Price includes

High quality Full Board en-suite accommodation and excellent food in our Country House

Guidance from a knowledgeable HF Holidays’ leader, to ensure you get the most from your holiday

All essential transport on a comfortable, good-quality mini-coach or other mode of transport, e.g. boat

Entrance fees to venues included as part of your holiday’s itinerary

In pictures...

Accommodation

West Lulworth House has a wonderful elevated location just 200 yards from the sea. Its elevated location overlooking Lulworth Cove allows spectacular views from many of the rooms, the garden and the outdoor swimming pool. The house has undergone major investment with the completion of a new lounge and dining room

We have 20 newly refurbished bedrooms at West Lulworth House, many with wonderful views down to the sea.

Choose your room

Classic Rooms• Check in from 2:30pm• Comfortable accommodation • En-suite bathroom with bath or shower• 23 inch TV• Hairdryer• Tea and coffee-making facilities• Double or two single beds• Toiletries• Single rooms are available at no extra charge

Family Rooms• Check-in from 2:30pm• 3 or 4 beds • Same facilities as our classic rooms• Full sized twin or double beds for adults and bunk or occasional beds for children

Facilities

• Excellent boot and drying rooms • Recently extended• New lounge and dining room opening up onto a terrace with views over the cove • Free WiFi is available in the public rooms

• South-facing garden• Outdoor swimming pool (Open in summer)• Complimentary parking for guests is available in the public car park opposite the house

Dining

All holidays at our Country Houses are full board accommodation including evening meal on arrival to breakfast on the day of your departure. All of our Country Houses have a well-stocked bar serving local beers, wine and spirits.

√Start your day with our extensive breakfast.√ Take your fill from our famous self-service picnic lunches√ A relaxed social dinner is a highlight of any stay at our Country Houses

Your evenings

Just relax and take it easy, or if you'd like to continue to chat with our guides and fellow guests then why not grab a drink or take part in one of our optional evening activities.

All of our bars are stocked with locally sourced drinks so you can really soak up your surroundings.

Itinerary

Arrival day

You can check in to your room from 2.30pm onwards (premium rooms from 1pm). Please join us for afternoon tea. This is the first occasion when everyone in the country house meets together – an opportunity to meet your leader and fellow guests, and find out more about your holiday.

Other days

On our Natural World holidays we spend most of the day outdoors, exploring by mini-coach or on foot, walking up to 6 miles (9.5km) each day with regular stops to enjoy rock formations and fossils.

The Lulworth Crumple & Durdle Door

After a hearty breakfast we begin the morning by examining a wonderful local feature the ‘Lulworth Crumple’; we’ll then head to the iconic formation of Durdle Door, followed by Studland Bay where we look at Old Harry Rocks. We’ll end our day at Kimmeridge Bay where we hope to visit the newly opened fossil museum.

Isle of Portland & Chesil Beach

Armed with a tasty picnic lunch, we head to the Isle of Portland where we’ll soak up the excellent views of Chesil Beach. We’ll then visit Portland Bill, and a sculpture park quarry with interesting geological features. We’ll continue for a walk over Chesil Beach, before ending at some spectacular cliffs close to Bridport.

Charmouth & the Ammonite Graveyard

Today we’ll search for fossils at Charmouth and Lyme Regis, and visit the heritage centre at Charmouth to see its fantastic fossil collection. We’ll also visit the ’Ammonite Graveyard’, where giant ammonites can be seen, then round off our day at the red cliffs at Seaton. A perfect finale to this brilliant holiday.

Departure day

Depart after a leisurely breakfast

Sometimes things happen beyond our control – the weather, traffic jams or changes at the places we visit. If we need to adjust your holiday programme, for whatever reason, your leader will help smooth the way.

What to bring

Outdoor clothing appropriate to the season, including waterproofs

Strong, comfortable footwear with a good tread is essential

Thermos flask (optional)

Camera (optional - as many of the sites are photogenic, plus you capture a visual record what you have seen)

Notebook (optional - but very handy)

Local area

Discover Dorset

Lulworth Cove is a justifiably popular destination, with day-trippers and holiday-makers drawn by the stunning local scenery. The Cove itself is a near-perfect circle which has been carved by the waves into the soft rocks. A 20 minute walk along the cliff path will take you to Durdle Door, the area's other geological wonder. This impressive natural sea arch has been carved from the harder chalk rocks. The free Heritage Centre next to the public car park is well worth a visit during your stay.

Facilities in Lulworth Cove are limited to a selection of pubs, cafés and souvenir shops. The nearest towns are Wareham, Dorchester and Weymouth, which all have a good selection of banks, chemists and supermarkets.

During your visit to Dorset you may enjoy visiting the following places of interest:

The Tank MuseumThe Tank Museum at Bovington, 20 minutes' drive north of Lulworth Cove, houses a particularly impressive collection of tanks from around the world. Trace the history from the tank's origins in the First World War to the present day. www.tankmuseum.org

Lulworth CastleSituated just a couple of miles inland from the cove, Lulworth Castle is a 17th century mock medieval castle that was once the heart of an extensive estate. Having been gutted by fire in 1929 it was derelict for many years, but has since been completely renovated. www.lulworth.com/castle

Corfe CastleThe iconic ruins of Corfe Castle stand guard over a natural gap in the Purbeck Hills, about 30 minutes' drive from Lulworth. Dating from the 11th century it is now maintained by the National Trust. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/corfe-castle

Swanage RailwayRide on this lovingly restored branch line through the glorious Purbeck countryside. Steam hauled trains run throughout the year. You may want to leave your car in the Park & Ride at Norden, about 30 minutes' drive from Lulworth, and use the railway to visit the attractive seaside resort of Swanage. www.swanagerailway.co.uk

Monkey WorldLocated near Wool, 20 minutes' drive north of Lulworth Cove, Monkey World is a great family attraction. Orginally set up to rescue mistreated monkeys from overseas, it is now home to a huge collection of primates of all shapes and sizes. www.monkeyworld.org

Brownsea IslandBrownsea Island is located in the middle of Poole Harbour – boats depart from Poole Quay and Sandbanks, about 40 minutes' drive from Lulworth Cove. The island is now a nature reserve, managed by the National Trust and one of last remaining places to spot red squirrels in the UK. Brownsea is also famous as the location of the world's first scout camp in 1907. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea-island

WeymouthWeymouth is a fine Regency seaside resort with an ever-popular beach and bustling harbour.

Thomas Hardy’s CottageThe writer Thomas Hardy was one of Dorset’s most celebrated residents who used the local towns and villages around Dorchester as the setting for many of his novels. His birthplace near Dorchester is around 30 minutes' drive away and now owned by the National Trust. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardy-country

Athelhampton House & GardensLocated near Dorchester, about 30 minutes' drive away, Athelhampton House is a fine Tudor building dating from 1485. The surrounding formal gardens are also impressive and were built between 1891 - 1899. www.athelhampton.co.uk

Kingston LacyThis fine country house and estate is located near Wimborne Minster, about 45 minutes' drive from Lulworth Cove. Dating from 1665, and now managed by the National Trust, it houses a fine collection of antiques, with many notable examples from the Middle East and Egypt. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy

Travel

Travel to Lulworth Cove

By train:

The nearest railway station is at Wool. For train times and general rail enquiries visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 03457 484950 (from outside the UK call +44 20 7278 5240).

By taxi:

The 5 mile journey from Wool railway station takes approximately 10 minutes. Pre-booked taxis cost approx £13 per taxi. Details of our current recommended taxi company and rates will be sent to you with your booking. The return taxi journey can be arranged on your behalf by the West Lulworth House Manager.

By car:

The recommended route is via Bere Regis and Wool – although slightly longer this avoids the traffic through Bournemouth and Poole. From Bere Regis follow signs to Wool. At Wool cross the level crossing and turn left following signs to Lulworth Cove and West Lulworth. Continue for a further 4 miles to Lulworth Cove. As you enter Lulworth Cove Village, there is a slip road on your left to West Lulworth House. Park on the slip road if you would like to take advantage of our bag drop off service, which is available from 10am to 6.30pm, on arrival and departure days. You can then continue to the public car park at the end of the slip road to park your car. This car park is free for HF Holidays’ guests. Pick up a parking permit from West Lulworth House.

Travelling from overseas

If you're travelling from Europe the most convenient airport is at Southampton. From Southampton Airport Parkway station (adjacent to the airport terminal) there are direct trains every hour to Wool - journey time 1hr 20mins. See www.nationalrail.co.uk for details.

For most guests, travelling to either London Heathrow or London Gatwick airport is the best option. See www.nationalrail.co.uk for onward connections by train to Wool.

Leaders

Kevin Hall

Kevin is a retired science teacher living in North Wales. He has kept bees for over thirty years and is a keen amateur naturalist, geologist and bird watcher. He has been leading for HF Holidays since 2002.

Kevin shared his extensive knowledge of the natural world, was considerate to all in the group whatever their capabilities. Provided extensive lists of all things encountered on our walks - Excellent!